I interviewed head football coach, Patrick Etherton, on this upcoming football season and about himself. The first thing I asked Etherton was what his expectations were for this season. Etherton said “We expect big things from our team this year. Right now we are focused on the first game and making improvements from our scrimmage last week. We believe that success is a journey and not a destination.”

Etherton said that the team is doing well this year so far and that he thought his players did well against Eureka College during the scrimmage. Instead of looking at the season as a “who is our biggest competitor” type of season, Etherton and his team are concentrating on being the best team that they can be week after week.

The team is looking forward to this season because it will be the first football season in the history of Millikin that will be played under lights on the field. They cannot wait to play on the new surface and enjoy the new scoreboard and lights. Etherton believes that because the facilities have been renovated, it will boost school spirit and game attendance.

Success for Etherton is his players to working toward their full potential. He also enjoys watching them graduate and become successful in the real world. He mentally prepares the players for games by having them visualize themselves being great. Etherton said that he usually gives a short talk to the players before they take the field, but by that point they are already ready to go.

Etherton played football in high school as well as for Millikin. He says the best part about being a coach is getting to know your players and watch them grow during their time here. He enjoys when his former players come back and tell him how great they are doing in life. He got into coaching because he enjoys the game and wanted to continue helping student-athletes achieve their life goals. Etherton and his wife are both Millikin alumni, and they both grew up in the area.